MOSCOW, May 12, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the awareness of Russians about the signing of the third Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, what they think the essence of the treaty is, and who it is profitable for.
More than half of Russians (52%) have not heard anything about the signing of the third Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Every third (37%) have heard something about that, but can hardly describe what it is about. Only 8% of Russians are well aware of this treaty. Most of those who understand the general idea behind this treaty are men (61%), respondents with nigh level of education (59%), CPRF (61%) and LDPR (59%) supporters and Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (64%), and residents of Central Federal District (54%). Those who have no idea about the treaty are basically United Russia party adherents (54%), women (59%) and low-educated respondents (60%). Residents of small cities and rural area inhabitants (53-59%), as well as respondents residing in the Urals (65%) and Far-Eastern Federal Districts (67%) are those who have not heard anything about START-III.
Most of respondents who know what the essence of START-III is report that it aims at reducing existing weapons and restricting the spread of the new ones (46%).Some respondents regard this treaty as a move towards strengthening relations between Russia and the United States (8%); other 5% say the treaty is targeted at deterring the expansion of U.S. missile defense system to Europe.
Every third Russian (33%) believes that both Russia and the U.S. will equally benefit from signing START-III. More than quarter of Russians thinks that the entire world community will benefit from this treaty (27%). Every fifth (22%) reports that the only country that will receive treaty benefits is the U.S.; 4% of Russians name Russia instead. Those who think that the treaty is advantageous for Americans are mainly those who have no special liking for the U.S. (40%); most of them are LDPR supporters (35%), metropolitan residents (31%), respondents with poor financial income (27%), and residents of Central fFderal District (28%). Those who think the treaty is profitable for Russia are respondents with good financial income (9%) and residents of Southern Federal District (12%). Those who see the mutual benefits for both countries are respondents who have positive attitude toward the U.S. (39%), supporters of the Fair Russia party (37%), rural area inhabitants (42%), and residents of the Urals (39%) and Siberian (38%) Federal Districts.
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on May 1-2, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4 %.
Do you know/have you heard or do you hear for the first time about the signing if the third Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between Russia and the U.S.? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Age | ||||
18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and above | ||
Well aware about that | 8 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
Heard something about that | 37 | 27 | 36 | 39 | 42 | 36 |
Hear for the first time | 52 | 65 | 55 | 50 | 46 | 50 |
Hard to tell | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
What is the essence of the treaty between the U.S. and Russia? (open-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who knows about the signing of START-III) | |
To prevent the further spread of nuclear weapons and to reduce the existing weapons | 46 |
To strengthen the relations between the U.S. and Russia | 8 |
To prevent the expansion of the U.S. missile defense system and its deployment in Eastern Europe | 5 |
Other | 1 |
Hard to tell | 41 |
In your opinion, which country will benefit from the signing of START-III? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
| Total respondents | Attitude to the United States | |
Positive attitude | Negative attitude | ||
U.S. | 22 | 14 | 40 |
Russia | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Both countries equally | 33 | 39 | 23 |
Entire world community | 27 | 32 | 16 |
No one | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Hard to tell | 12 | 8 | 16 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!